Famous ‘Pendle Witches’ brewer Moorhouse’s has cast a new ‘white magic’ spell to welcome in Spring.  April sees White Witch (3.9%abv) released as the latest in the Lancashire brewer’s creative 2012 seasonal range from the new multi million pound brewery.

Moorhouse’s brewers have blended Brewers Gold hops with the ‘noble’ German origin Tettnang variety for blonde style ale that delivers ‘a refreshing fruity spring time flavour with a bit of citrus, flowers and rich peppery spice on the aroma.” The pump clip displays a striking white witch image.

The North West’s leading dedicated cask brewer launched a £4.2m brewing complex in Burnley last year that has trebled former production capacity to some 15 million pints a year and includes a visitor centre and training school. This expansion has provided the capacity for special ales to be brewed to include new brews and the return of old favourites including Old Boss Bitter. 

Managing director David Grant said: “White Witch pays our respects to the witches who cast their spells for good rather than evil and loved the earth – so this brew is particularly appropriate for the arrival of spring and will be great easy drinking ale to suit the season.

“The brewing team has been able to create our 2012 specials with the resources of the new brewery. They have all quickly sold out and we expect this to be another bit of magic from the team.”

David Grant in the new Moorhouse's brewhouse.

Fast growing Burnley based Moorhouse’s Brewery has been praised as a ‘high growth champion’ company in BBC sponsored research for the North West.

The survey found the former Lancashire mill town that is enjoying resurgence now has 4,000 companies and is the second best place in the region for businesses with high potential, trailing only Halton in Cheshire.

The research found high growth businesses shared several characteristics; young and small-but-rapidly-growing firms with directors that show an international outlook, entrepreneurial skill, and an appetite for business risk.

Internationally acclaimed Moorhouses Brewery has seen a 100 per cent increase in sales on this time last year following the launch of a £4.2m brewing complex in early 2011.Now the brewery employs 38 full and part-time staff and has enjoyed 22 per cent increase in turnover during the past four months despite the difficult economy. It plans to double its £3.5m pus turnover in the next two years as it becomes a fully fledged ‘regional brewer’.

David Grant, managing director, said: “I was delighted but not surprised at this news. As a business we take decisions based upon confidence in our product; confidence in the market; confidence in the town and in our ability to attract investment.

“Our production capacity was 320 barrels of beer a week. We just couldn’t do any more. We could have either sat back and continued as we were, or pushed forward and invested during a difficult economic time. In a pledge of faith in the future, we have doubled our workforce and trebled our production capacity. We can now produce 1,000 barrels a week, or 15 million pints a year and are making our mark as a major brewer.

“In the past two years I have been able to represent the industry and Burnley in meetings with Prince Charles, the Deputy Prime Minister and the Trade and Industry Secretary, yet only a few years we were virtually unknown despite our award winning brands.”

The “Pendle Witch’ brewer is a member of the Burnley Bondholder Scheme, which aims to bring local businesses together and help promote the image of the area. Kevin Keith, bondholder manager, said: “The scheme doesn’t have followers, it has leaders who want to champion the area and have a confidence in the area in general.”

David Grant, MD Moorhouse's Brewery

North West brewery boss David Grant has made a personal plea to the deputy Prime Minister to help the beer industry in Wednesday’s Budget.

The managing director of the acclaimed Moorhouse’s Brewery appealed to Nick Clegg in a meeting for Burnley businessmen last Thursday – on the eve the Lib/Dem leader’s ‘pre budget summit’ with Chancellor George Osborne.

During a private dinner in Padiham Mr Grant said the industry must be spared a two per cent above inflation ‘beer duty escalator’ tax to avoid driving away pub customers and job losses. Mr Grant also pointed out that the beer industry supports almost 1m UK jobs while Britain pays 40 per cent of the EU beer tax bill – yet consumes only 13 per cent of the beer sold in Europe

He said: “I told the deputy Prime Minister that last year one in six of 16-to-24-year-olds in employment were employed in pubs and breweries. He was amazed at that figure and the fact that 50 per cent of a brewer’s turnover goes in duty. I gave him the Society for Independent Brewers Industry Report and he promised to read it on his way home.”
“I also suggested that the Progressive Beer Duty threshold for smaller brewers should be moved and explained that if the Government continues with the beer duty escalator then it would have an adverse effect on all of us. I don’t think my comments fell on deaf ears, but this is not going to be fixed straight away. If the trade continues to push these messages through then I think someone will listen. I was probably the last brewing person to have the ear of the deputy PM before he met with the Chancellor last Friday. I hope I made some impression.”

Last year Moorhouse’s bucked the recession with a £4.2m investment to grow business for its famous Pendle Witch cask-conditioned ales. Now the 147-year-old Burnley company aims to double its £3.5m plus turnover in two years to become a fully fledged ‘regional brewer’.
Moorhouse’s is a member of the SIBA (Society of Independent Brewers), which has campaigned vigorously against the ‘duty escalator’ and Mr Grant is also urging all brewers to ask their local MP to sign up to Parliamentary motion EDM 2785 against the the tax or protest to the Treasury.*

Moorhouse’s brewers have combined brown, pale, crystal and peat malt to create a ‘traditional chestnut brown coloured ale with a subtle hint of warm highland smokiness on the aroma, balanced with sweet roasted and toffee malt flavours and a smooth hop note of English Fuggles’. It is available throughout March.

Peat Brown (4.4%) pays humorous tribute to celebrated beer writer Pete Brown with a cheeky pump clip image of the award winning author, who has championed the revival of traditional ale styles. Pete was on hand to pull off the first pints of the special in the brewer’s new bistro bar.

Moorhouse's David Grant raises a glass of Peat Brown with writer Pete Brown.

The famous ‘Pendle Witches’ brewer launched a new £4.2m brewing complex last year that trebled the former production capacity at the North West’s leading dedicated cask brewery to more than 1000 barrels a week – 15 million pints a year – and included a visitor centre and training school. This expansion has allowed a new range of special ales to be brewed for 2012 will such as Peat Brown  and the return of old favourites including Old Boss Bitter later in the year. 

Managing director David Grant said: “Our new specials have been going down very well since we were able to expand the range and we expect this to be another winner. This once popular ale style lost favour for many years in most parts of the country. But these days many new drinkers are exploring traditional styles. As Pete Brown has been at the forefront of highlighting styles such as IPA, stouts and porters it seemed right to put him on the clip as a bit of fun to recognise his contribution. It was great to have Pete’s seal of approval with him pulling – and enjoying – the first pint at the brewery.”

Pete Brown said: “It’s a powerful, grown up beer.  It’s soft and rounded, and then the warming aftertaste builds steadily.  It begs to be paired with food, and I’d love to try it with a charcuterie or a plate of cheeses.  If you don’t have any food to hand, you just have to take another drink!”

The famous ‘Pendle Witches’ brewer will hold the first event on 16/17 March. It will feature champion brews from the annual Camra (Campaign for Real Ale) Great British Beer Festival (GBBF) and the Brewing Industry International Awards (BIIA) to highlight the best of British craft cask ales – the only growing sector of the UK beer industry – while showcasing Moorhouse’s major investment.

With the opening of the 1000-barrel-a-week capacity complex last year a spacious visitor centre, complete with bistro-bar, was also launched to attract both private and public events to the Burnley brewery.

A July festival (27/28) will feature ales from a growing band of brewsters (female brewers). It will include a special tasting evening for female drinkers led by top beer writer Melissa Cole. For October a festival will mark the Halloween season and the 400th anniversary of the trial and execution of the legendary Pendle Witches. Entry for the festivals is £3.00 (Camra members £2.00) and advance tickets are available from the brewery – telephone 01282 422864.

Managing director David Grant said: “This ambitious programme of festivals will celebrate the major commitment we have made in the future of the cask ale industry and focus attention on this growing market. The new visitor centre means we are now able to cater for both private functions, such as weddings and corporate celebrations, as well as large public events. The festivals will showcase what we have to offer while giving both enthusiasts and newcomers to cask a chance to enjoy some of Britain’s top brews.

“Our brewsters’ festival will highlight the considerable contribution that female brewers are now making to the growing cask ales market at a time when cask is rapidly growing in popularity among women. And, of course, as the nation’s award winning ‘Halloween Brewer’ we wish to mark the 400th anniversary of the Pendle Witches story appropriately.”

Lancashire’s Moorhouse’s Brewery – the acclaimed ‘Pendle Witches’ brewer – is rolling out premium strength Pendle Porter (5%) as February’s special ale.

The brew has been created by brewer Mark Bennett as ‘a traditional porter with chocolate malt and roasted barley married with English Fuggles hops and New Zealand’s Green Bullet for hoppy pine notes’.

The launch of a new £4.2m brewing complex last year trebled the former production capacity at the North West’s leading dedicated cask brewer to more than 1000 barrels a week – 15 million pints a year.

This means special ales can now be brewed each month and 2012 will see both the roll out of newly created brews and the return of old favourites such as Amber Rambler and Old Boss Bitter.

Managing director David Grant said: “Seasonal brews were put on hold as we used capacity on the old plant to simply meet demand for core brews. But now our talented brewers are creating new brews such as this delicious porter- a traditional porter with a twist of New World hops. For a long time porter was a much neglected beer style, but now many new drinkers are exploring traditional styles and we predict healthy sales.”

The Burnley-based cask ale specialist also reported a 44% hike in sales in November amid growing national sales after the completion of a £4.2m expansion plan which tripled production capacity to 15 million pints a year.

New business wins with national pub companies such as Enterprise, Wetherspoon’s and Punch and via wholesalers in the south of England as well as in the free trade drove the growth in sales.

Managing director David Grant said: “Recent years have seen us consistently break all previous records and once again we have enjoyed an amazing festive season, despite the struggling economy. The figures are a real tribute to the appeal of our award winning beers with beer enthusiasts throughout the country.

“No doubt sales were also helped by the milder weather this year, allowing more people to get out for the season’s celebrations. But the sales round-off a really exciting year as the new brewery rapidly gathers momentum and give us a terrific start to 2012.”

Moorhouse’s, owned by Manchester businessman Bill Parkinson, plans to double its £3.5m pus turnover in the next two years as it becomes a fully fledged ‘regional brewer’.

The new complex includes a visitor centre, with bistro bar and training school and has already claimed an industry award after being judged ‘Best Business Development’ at the Society of Independent Brewers Business Awards 2011.

By Chris Barry – Editor, Business Desk North West

Lancashire’s Moorhouse’s Brewery – the acclaimed ‘Pendle Witches’ brewer – is welcoming the New Year with its IPA (India Pale Ale) brew as the first seasonal special for 2012.

Moorhouse’s IPA (4%) is described as ‘straw/light amber in colour’ brewed using a blend of English Challenger and Goldings as early hops, to deliver a strong dry bitterness whilst the rich malt ensures a smooth, creamy and more balanced flavour. Then the ale is late hopped with both Cascade and Goldings to give strong floral and citrus notes.

IPA was first brewed in the 19th century as heavily hopped beer to survive the long sea journey to the colonies of the British Empire.

With the launch of a new £4.2m brewing complex earlier this year the former production capacity at the North West’s leading dedicated cask brewer trebled to more than 1000 barrels. This means special ales can now be brewed each month. Next year the new list will see both the roll out of newly created ales and the return of old favourites such as Amber Rambler.

Managing director David Grant said: “Seasonal brews had to be put on hold as we used capacity on the old plant to simply meet demand for core brews. But now our talented brewers are creating new brews such as this delicious IPA which will start off 2012.”

Moorhouse’s has rolled out festive brew Lap Prancer (4.2%) as rocketing seasonal sales are predicted for the new multi-million pound Burnley brewery.

The acclaimed ‘Pendle Witch’ brewer’s Christmas special is brewed with Bock style Munich Malt, often associated with religious occasions, to give amber coloured ale with a rich, full malty flavour. Cascade and Fuggles hops provide a spicy/floral aroma and a satisfying long bitter finish. A fun pump clip captures the festive spirit.

Moorhouse’s managing director David Grant said: “Lap Prancer provides a little fun for the season of goodwill. It’s rich and fruity ale for a satisfying pint, but still with a moderate strength for those merry festive evenings.”

The North West’s leading dedicated cask ale brewer, Moorhouse’s is forecasting record breaking seasonal sales as output from the new brewery rises consistently month-on-month. September and October saw volume growth of 21 per cent on the same period in 2010, with sales of almost half-a- million pints for the Halloween season.

The opening of the £4.2m brewery complex has trebled production capacity to some 288,000 pints (1000 brewer’s barrels) a week while the development also includes a high-tech visitor centre and premier training school.

The cottage was discovered near Lower Black Moss reservoir in the village of Barley, in the shadow of Pendle Hill.

Historians are now speculating that the well-preserved cottage could have belonged to one of the Pendle witches.

VIEW THE VIDEO ON THE BBC WEBSITE HERE